Now the Cherry and Whites' academy manager, the ex-Gloucester star played a pivotal role in convincing Kvesic to choose Kingsholm.

Rugby director Davies explained: "We're very pleased that we've signed Matt, I think whichever team he's played for he's been very influential.

"He can turn games on his actions – as an out-an-out seven he's one of the best out there.

"He's a young boy who is one of the rising stars of English rugby if you like, and for us to have been able to sign him is a big statement of intent by Gloucester.

"And by him too, because he thinks he's coming to a club that can help further his career, and we firmly believe we can do that and he can be part of something that evolves here over the next couple of years.

"For him to have played so many games at his age says a lot about him.

"When you look at his contribution it's clear why he does influence games: he can turn over ball, his continuity play is very good, and in his own right he's a good ball-player and a very good rugby player.

"He's very influential but he's a leader as well, and in successful teams you need leaders on the park.

"He's worked with Stan in the past, and Stan was able to be quite influential in that and was able to tell him quite clearly what is going on here.

"He has a lot of respect and admiration for Stan, so that definitely had an impact.

"He's one of the most exciting young talents around at the moment, so for us to have captured him says a lot about where Gloucester are and where we are going."

Born in Iserlohn, Germany while his father served in the Army, Kvesic attended Blundell's School in Tiverton, representing Devon and South West Schools.

The combative loose forward played alongside future Gloucester team-mates Ryan Mills and Koree Britton, and also Guy Armitage, on the way to representing England Under-16s in 2008.

Though he was quickly affiliated to Worcester by his second year of senior school, Kvesic always supported Gloucester thanks to family ties.

And Davies said that has definitely helped the Cherry and Whites beat the likes of Bath and Leicester to his signature.

Davies continued: "He supported Gloucester as a young boy, he used to stand in The Shed with his father.

"That had a big pull, so to have somebody of that quality and potential coming here, off the back of supporting the club, that means a lot.

"He will be entrenched in Gloucester, and what it means to play for Gloucester, because he's seen it from a young age.

"He's a leader, a natural leader, and that's big.

"The more players we have with that quality then the more effective and efficient the team's going to be.

58 comments

We need ************* playing so that we avoid having to see the embarrassing situation of a Gloucester front front row made to look like mugs as in the Tigers' game at Welford Road. A great opportunity to beat Tigers on their home turf thrown away because of an underpowered scrum.

************* is a top man as well as being Gloucester Rugby's top rated tight head. He is the top rated quite simply because he is the best tight head at Gloucester Rugby by a country mile. He is light years of anyone else at Gloucester in that position.

Well done to ************* for showing again why he is Nigel Davies' first choice tight head. The Gloucester Rugby hating troll akadau can't get over the fact that the man who selects the team knows better than him and that is why he always selects Harden for the tough/crucial games.

Akadau aka Stig1 aka Glawsteruk1 aka Kap721etc. is the same old Gloucester Rugby hating troll. He has a big downer on Harden because Nigel Davies keeps on starting him and thus proves the troll completely wrong about who the best tight-head prop at Gloucester is.